San Diego, California
MCAS Miramar Crashpad — TDY lodging that feels like home
Looking for an MCAS Miramar crashpad? San Diego is home to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and its fighter, tiltrotor, heavy-lift, and tanker squadrons keep aircrew, maintainers, staff, and contractors coming through on detachments, transition training, and wing staff assignments that run weeks to months. A furnished crashpad in Mira Mesa or Scripps Ranch at or under the San Diego government lodging rate beats a hotel on Miramar Road when you are here for a whole workup.
Mission
Home of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of I Marine Expeditionary Force, operating and maintaining the air station that launches Marine F-35, F/A-18, KC-130J, MV-22, and CH-53 squadrons from San Diego.
Host units
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW) headquarters, the aviation combat element for I MEF and the West Coast · Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11): F-35C and F-35B, F/A-18 Hornet, and KC-130J Super Hercules squadrons · Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16): MV-22B Osprey and CH-53E Super Stallion (transitioning to CH-53K King Stallion) squadrons · Marine Air Control Group 38, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing reserve elements, and Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron MCAS Miramar
Commute
Mira Mesa and University City reach the North Gate on Miramar Road in 5 to 15 minutes, Scripps Ranch and Kearny Mesa hit the East Gate on Miramar Way via I-15 in about 10 to 15 minutes, and Poway or Clairemont run 20 to 30 minutes via Scripps Poway Parkway or CA-163 and I-805.
Homes near the gate
Crashpads serving MCAS Miramar
1 fully furnished property positioned for the MCAS Miramar commute.
Why stay in a crashpad near MCAS Miramar?
MCAS Miramar sits on about 23,000 acres in the middle of San Diego, wedged between I-15 and I-805 just north of Kearny Mesa, and hosts roughly 11,000 active-duty Marines and Sailors plus reservists and civilians. Marine Aircraft Group 11 flies the F-35C, F-35B, F/A-18, and KC-130J out of the fixed-wing side, Marine Aircraft Group 16 flies the MV-22B and CH-53E from the rotary side, and 3rd MAW headquarters runs the West Coast's Marine aviation from the same flight line. The base shares San Diego's enormous military population with NAS North Island, Naval Base San Diego, Naval Base Point Loma, and MCRD San Diego, so cross-flow between installations is constant and every TAD traveler is competing for the same lodging. The Inns of the Corps Miramar Inn on Bauer Road is inside the East Gate and fills around squadron detachments, Marine Corps Ball season, the September air show, and summer PCS traffic, while off-base hotels charge San Diego prices that climb past the June through August lodging rate. A crashpad gives you a real kitchen, a quiet room after a night launch, reliable parking, and a fixed nightly rate with a DTS-ready receipt, usually 5 to 20 minutes from the North or East Gate. It also fits PCS families waiting on Liberty Military Housing, where family housing wait lists commonly run a year or longer.
Who we host at MCAS Miramar
- Aircrew and maintainers on detachments or fleet replacement and transition training with the F-35, F/A-18, MV-22, CH-53, and KC-130J squadrons
- 3rd MAW and MAG staff augmentees, exercise planners, and inspectors in for wing-level evaluations and predeployment workups
- Marine Air Control Group 38 students and instructors, plus air traffic control, weather, and aviation logistics personnel on temporary orders
- Navy, Air Force, and joint personnel cross-flowing between Miramar, NAS North Island, Naval Base San Diego, Naval Base Point Loma, and MCRD San Diego
- Defense contractors and program office representatives supporting F-35 and CH-53K fielding, simulators, and hangar and flight line construction
Per diem, DTS, and your wallet
Every MCAS Miramar stay is priced at or below the San Diego government lodging rate. You'll receive itemized, DTS-ready receipts for your travel voucher — for a typical TDY that means zero out-of-pocket lodging cost. Read the full breakdown in our TDY per diem guide, or run your own numbers: the per diem calculator use the same rates DTS does. PCSing here instead? Check BAH for MCAS Miramar.
Local intel
MCAS Miramar crashpad FAQs
Which gate should I use at MCAS Miramar?
The Main (East) Gate on Miramar Way off I-15 is the only 24/7 gate and is where the Visitor and Registration Center sits, so first-time arrivals and anyone without a DBIDS credential should use it. The North Gate on Miramar Road serves housing, the Inn, and the Mira Mesa side and is open weekdays 0600 to 2200 with weekend and holiday hours that vary. The West Gate near I-805 opens only for short morning and evening commute windows, if at all, so confirm current hours on miramar.marines.mil before you plan around it.
Is a crashpad allowed on Marine Corps or Navy TAD orders?
Yes. If the Miramar Inn issues a Statement of Non-Availability, or your orders authorize commercial lodging, you can stay in any lodging that provides an itemized receipt and claim actual cost up to the San Diego locality rate, which is $199 per night most of the year and $237 in June through August for FY2026. Get the non-availability confirmation in writing and keep your crashpad receipt for the DTS voucher.
How far is the airport from MCAS Miramar?
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is about 17 miles south, roughly 20 to 30 minutes via I-5 or CA-163 to I-15 outside of rush hour. Rental cars are the practical choice because the base sits between freeways with no direct transit to the gates, though MTS buses run along Miramar Road and the Blue Line trolley reaches UTC a few miles west.
Calculators
Plan your MCAS Miramar TDY budget
Mission-ready lodging
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